FAKE NEWS: See What Nigerian Army Is Doing To Stop It

The Nigerian Army is asking media organisations in Nigeria to wage a war against fake news which it said has played out particularly in the new media environment.

Fake News is increasing in Nigeria especially when all it takes is just to imagine a thing, write about it, put it on the internet and then circulate it.

People are finding it hard to differentiate between fake and real news stories, but the Nigerian Army wants to help ensure that the spread of fake news reduces in Nigeria.

On Sunday the Army began a Media Workshop in Lagos State organised by the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information.

It was for Commanding Officers, Army Public Relations Officers, Defence Correspondents and other media Practitioners.

Addressing the gathering, the spokesman for the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Sani Usman, stressed that the theme for the workshop - “ Fake News as Threat to National Security: The Way Forward”- was apt.

The workshop is coming at a time Nigeria is grappling with a number of security challenges and the spokesman for the Nigerian Army said the nation had gained mileage against the ugly trend in a collective resolve to bring the situation under control.

He further stressed the need for people who generate fake news to desist.

"May I also quickly add that some unpatriotic activities of our country men and women have downplayed the level of success we have recorded in our operations is worrisome.

"More disturbing is their resolve to churn out fake news in a desperate attempt to supplant our narrative.

"This situation has played out particularly in the new media environment, must be stopped if our narrative in and out of there is to be sustained.

"Let me also add that, fake news has eaten deep into all spheres of our national lives as such we must collectively put a stop to it," Usman stated.

On the aim of the workshop, he expressed the belief that it would galvanise a robust discourse and create the necessary synergy amongst stakeholder in charting the way forward on our conscious efforts to stamp out fake news in our society.

"To our most critical stakeholders in the fight against fake news, our media men, I urge you to see this as a clarion call to our social responsibility to halt this ugly trend.

"I also want to urge you to discredit fake news in our society and engender positive narratives that will lead to national cohesion and unity.

"To all the participants I urge you to be realistic in the disclosure in the days ahead," he added.

The workshop that started on Sunday, December 9th will end on Thursday, December 13.

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